Report: Comey Suspects Trump Was Trying To ‘Influence’ Him

Former FBI Director James Comey has reportedly indicated that, in hindsight, he suspects President Trump had been attempting to sway him in regards to the Russia investigation.
Former FBI Director James Comey has reportedly indicated that, in hindsight, he suspects President Trump had been attempting to sway him in regards to the Russia investigation.
According to CNN, which published the story based on an inside source, “whether that influence amounts to obstruction of justice remains an open question.”
The source is quoted as saying, “You have to have intent in order to obstruct justice in the criminal sense...intent is hard to prove.”
Comey is said to have felt uncomfortable during a few specific encounters with Trump.
The New York Times has reported that one instance was during a White House ceremony for law enforcement officials on January 22; a friend of Comey’s has said that he wanted to remain in the background, but the president called him out and then tried to hug him. Comey tried to avoid the gesture.
And during a dinner between the two men later that month, the president reportedly asked Comey to confirm his loyalty, to which Comey is said to have responded by pledging honesty instead.
CNN says that while Comey was never at ease with Trump, in the beginning, he attributed the disconnect to a lack of knowledge about proper protocols between the White House and the FBI, but after a while, that opinion changed.
Trump, meanwhile, has continued to maintain his innocence; when a reporter asked him on Thursday about allegations that he had tried to get Comey to back down on the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Trump responded, “No. No. Next question.”
The president is also quoted as saying on Russia ties, “...the entire thing has been a witch hunt. There is no collusion between, certainly myself, and my campaign. I can certainly speak for myself.”
On Friday night, lawmakers announced that Comey has agreed to testify in an open session of the Senate Intelligence Committee after Memorial Day.